ALB and heart failure: Hypoalbuminemia is related to an increased risk of CVD for several reasons: firstly, albumin has anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity and antithrombotic capacity [15]; secondly, hypoalbuminemia exacerbates some CVD, and there is evidence that decreased albumin levels promote pulmonary edema and fluid retention, which ultimately result in heart failure [34]; thirdly, there is a relation between reduced albumin and the inflammatory response, as monocyte products of the inflammatory process, such as interleukin-1, promote reduced albumin synthesis [35].